11-Tundra+(3)+David+Dang,+Alex+Pham,+Thien+Vu



=Introduction: =

Originating from the word tunturia (which means treeless plain) the tundra is the coldest of the biomes. Tundra are found in regions below ice caps of the Arctic, extending across North America, Europe, and Siberia, where rainfall is scarce and the climate is cold and windy. The low amounts of precipitation (less than 10 inches per year) hinder tree and vegetation growth creating a desert-like environment. It's environment is molded by permafrost that thaws only a couple of inches during the summer. Temperatures are cold for the most part throughout the year (averaging -20° to -30°F), only during the summer does it get warmer (never over 45-50 ° F). The Tundra biome can be subdivided into two different types; Arctic tundra and Alpine Tundra and can be located in the northern hemisphere, encircling the north pole, and at high altitudes on top of mountains respectively. Primary nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorous, (created by biological fixation and precipitation respectively) and dead organic material. = = =Flora: =

The plants of the tundra biome have adapted in order to survive. In order to resist the cold winds and permafrost, plants group together, are short, and usually grow in rock depressions. In addition to those characteristics, they can also carry out photosynthesis with minimal sunlight and low temperatures. Growing seasons are short in the tundra, resulting in a large population of plants that reproduce by budding and division.

__**Arctic Tundra **__ __**Alpine Tundra **__  = = = = = = = = = =
 * Plants consist mostly of mosses, grasses, lichens, and shrubs.
 * Permafrost prevents trees from growing deep roots, some species of trees prevail over the inhospitable conditions but only grow to be about three inches tall.
 * Growing season is approximately 50-60 days.
 * Prominent plants include various species of mosses, lichens, perennial grasses, and cushion plants.
 * Caribou moss grows abundantly in the alpine tundra.
 * Growing season is approximately 180 days.

=Fauna: =

Biodiversity in the tundra is fairly low due to the colder temperatures and layer of permafrost covering the ground. However, many birds do migrate to the tundra during the winter months.

__**Mammals: **__ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Arctic Wolves
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Arctic Fox
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Arctic Hares
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Caribou
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Musk Ox
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Polar Bears
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Lemmings

__**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Migrat **____**<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">ory Birds: **__
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Ravens
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Snow Buntings
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Falcons
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Loons
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Sandpipers

=<span style="color: #93bdce; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Seasonal Temperatures/Precipitation: =

<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">A The tundra is has a cold and dry climate. Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain per year, including melted snow. Winter temperatures range from <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';">-20° to -30°F and peak at 20° F. During the summer, conditions improve just a little bit, allowing vegetation to reproduce. Summer temperatures peak at 45 or 50° F, with the sun shining almost 24 hours a day.

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=<span style="color: #93bdce; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Human Impact: = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">All species on this planet are affected by Global Warming and the effects of industrialization and oil and gas exploration. With climate change, this is creating a challenge to all species in the Arctic. The region is fragile and the plant and animal species are negatively impacted. It takes millions of years to adapt to environment.The Arctic tundra is changing dramatically due to global warming. Already, more southern animals like the red fox have moved onto the tundra. The red fox is now competing with the Arctic fox for food and territory, and the long-term impact on the sensitive Arctic fox is unknown. With the sudden changes through global warming because of human activity, the species of the Arctic are not adapting. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Species in the Arctic are also impacted by the oil industries and human interaction. The hunt for fossil fuel is particularly damaging to the Arctic as it is difficult to both work and make pipelines safe because of the permafrost. The Native people of the North have complained that the caribou herds are getting smaller and their land and water sources are contaminated. Without clean water and land for vegetation to grow naturally, it is a major threat to the entire Arctic ecosystem. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">In recent years, the development of industry in the Arctic has seen an increase in humans and various activities in the region. As with all ecosystems, this interference negatively impacts this fragile ecosystem. = = =<span style="color: #93bdce; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Bibliography: =

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Weather History for Tundra, Alaska, United States." Meoweather. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Flora and Fauna, Arctic, the." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. <http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/arctic-the-flora-fauna.html>.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Tundra Animals: 6 Arctic Animals Perfectly Adapted For Life In The Cold - Conservation Institute." Conservation Institute. N.p., 15 July 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><http://www.conservationinstitute.org/tundra-animals-6-arctic-animals-perfectly-adapted-for-life-in-the-cold/>.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"Tundra Monthly Climate Average." World Weather Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. <http://www.worldweatheronline.com/Tundra-weather-averages/Alaska/US.aspx>.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">"The Tundra Biome." The Tundra Biome. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/tundra.html>.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Tundra – National Geographic. “ National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. < http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/tundra-profile/>

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Cruikshank, Dana. “The Artic Offers More Evidence of Human Influences on Climate Change.” N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015 <http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115010>

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">“Temperature and Precipitation Graphs : Misson: Biomes.” Temperature and Precipitation Graphs : Mission: Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015. < http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/graphs.php>